Chapter 9 Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Chapter 9
EVELYN POV

Daniel didn’t speak again until we reached the steps leading to my dorm building. His silence wasn’t calm. It was the kind that felt heavy, the kind that meant he was calculating something dangerous. I tried to breathe normally, but my heart still raced from the moment Lila vanished into the trees.

When we reached the entrance, he stopped and looked around before turning to me. “Go inside. Lock the door. Do not open it for anyone except Maya.”

I nodded, fingers tight around my bag strap. “Daniel, what is she doing? Why follow us?”

“She is making her position clear,” he said. “You challenged her. And she doesn’t let things go.”

His voice was firm, but for the first time since I met him, I saw genuine fear behind his eyes. Not fear of being blamed. Not fear of suspicion.

Fear of Lila.

I swallowed. “Are you going home?”

“No,” he said. “I’m not leaving you alone tonight. I’ll stay outside until the lights in your dorm go out. After that, I’ll stay close to the building.”

“You don’t have to—”

“If I leave you alone,” he said quietly, “she will not hesitate.”

The seriousness in his tone silenced me. I unlocked the dorm door and stepped halfway inside before turning back to him.

“Daniel… thank you.”

He gave a small nod. “Go.”

I went inside, my hand shaking slightly as I closed the door behind me. I leaned against it, letting out a breath that felt trapped for too long. The hallway was quiet, only the distant hum of a vending machine filling the air.

Maya wasn’t in the room when I entered. Her books were still on her bed, so she was probably in the common area. I locked the dorm door and checked it again just to be sure. Only after I felt certain it wouldn’t swing open did I sit on my bed.

My whole body felt tense. Even my pulse beat too fast.

I opened my bag and took out the bracelet. Alex’s bracelet. The compass charm was cool against my palm. I remembered the day I gave it to him. He’d laughed and told me I worried too much, that he’d always find his way back.

Now the charm felt like a warning instead of comfort.

My phone buzzed suddenly, rattling on the bed. I jumped, then grabbed it quickly, fearing another unknown message.

But it was Maya.

Maya: I’m bringing snacks. Want anything?

I exhaled slowly.

Me: Just water is fine.

I set the phone down. I reached for the bracelet again and ran my thumb over the charm. The question I’d been avoiding pushed forward again.

Why would Lila take it?

Why keep it?

The thought twisted my stomach.

Footsteps approached down the hall. Maya’s voice came through the door. “It’s me.”

I opened it. She entered with a small bag of snacks and a bottle of water tucked under her arm. The moment she saw my face, her smile faded.

“What happened? You look like you saw a ghost.”

“I saw something,” I said. “Someone.”

Maya closed the door and sat on her bed, eyes steady on me. “Was it Lila?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. The way Maya’s expression sharpened told me she understood immediately.

“I knew she was off,” she muttered. “People talk about her like she’s perfect, but perfect people don’t grab everyone’s attention that way. It’s too polished. Too shiny.”

I sat down on my bed, feeling the tension ebb a little. “She followed me tonight. She watched us.”

“That’s creepy,” Maya said. “Do we need to report her?”

“No,” I said quickly. “If we do that, she’ll know I’m trying to expose something. Daniel thinks she might react worse.”

Maya frowned. “Worse than stalking you at night?”

I didn’t respond. The silence answered for me.

We talked for a few minutes more, mostly about school to distract my mind from the fear tightening in my chest. When Maya finally dozed off, I lay awake listening to the quiet room. The lamp on my nightstand cast soft light across the walls.

My phone buzzed again.

Daniel: Lights are out. I’m staying nearby.

I typed back.

Me: Thank you. Please be careful.

Daniel: I will. And you lock the door again.

I checked it. Twice. The lock clicked firmly.

I sat back on the bed and stared at the bracelet again. The questions kept circling.

Why did Lila have it?

What else did she take?

What did Alex learn before he died?

And why did she seem so calm when she warned me?

I lay down slowly, staring at the ceiling, trying to keep my eyes open. But exhaustion finally pulled me under.

Hours later, something made me wake up.

A sound.

Soft.

Barely there.

A tap on the window.

I sat up immediately, my breath caught in my throat. The room was dark, the curtains drawn. Maya was curled up in her bed, fast asleep.

Another tap.

My heartbeat thudded in my ears. I slowly slid out of bed and walked toward the window, careful not to make noise.

My hands trembled as I pulled the curtain aside just an inch.

At first I saw nothing.

Just the courtyard below.

Empty.

Silent.

Still.

Then a figure shifted near the tree line.

A pale shape among the shadows.

A white coat.

My stomach dropped.

Lila.

She wasn’t moving.

She wasn’t walking.

She was just standing there.

Watching the building.

Watching my window.

Her face was turned upward. Her hair was loose around her shoulders. And even from this distance, I could see her eyes.

Wide.

Focused.

Cold.

I stepped back immediately, heart pounding so hard it hurt. My hand shook as I grabbed my phone and sent a quick message to Daniel.

Me: She’s here.

Seconds later, he responded.

Daniel: Stay away from the window.

Me: She’s looking right at us.

Daniel: I’m coming around the building. Do not let her see movement.

I put my phone down with trembling fingers. Maya stirred in her sleep, unaware of the danger outside.

I stood still, every muscle tight.

Another tap sounded at the glass.

Not from outside.

From the small vent above the window frame.

A whisper of sound.

Like someone dragging a finger across the metal.

A cold shiver climbed my spine.

I didn’t know how long I stood there before the next sound came.

A soft vibration from my phone.

I looked down.

A new message.

Unknown number: I told you not to dig.

My knees almost gave out.

Unknown number: Now look how awake you are.

The message hung on the screen like ice.

A shadow moved on the ground outside.

Then another message appeared.

Unknown number: Come down.

I stared at it, breath trapped in my chest.

Unknown number: Or I’ll come up.

I didn’t move.

I couldn’t.

My phone buzzed again.

This time it was Daniel.

Daniel: Do not move. I see her. I’m behind the building. Stay away from the window. I’m calling someone to help.

I pressed the phone against my chest, closing my eyes.

When I opened them again, the window was silent.

The courtyard was empty.

Lila was gone.

But the fear she left behind stayed like a shadow that wouldn’t fade.